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Most Impressive Players So Far This Season

This is a team of the players who have impressed me most so far this season. Please note that these are the really impressive players, surpassing expectations, and not the already recognised top performers, so this includes players from lower clubs. For example Hazard didn’t make it due to already high expectations and the large transfer fee, despite his exceptional performances this season.

Goalkeeper – Jussi Jaaskelainen (West Ham)

The West Ham ‘keeper has been reliable as ever, and has pulled off a number of impressive saves this season. Despite his age, he continues to put in quality performances. He has helped West Ham to concede only 11 goals this term, a record only beaten by Manchester City and Stoke.

Right Back – Rafael Da Silva (Manchester United)

Rafael has really come through this year and provided a solution to Manchester United’s right back problem they have had for the last few years. He is confident when going forward, overlapping well, and also makes tackles and valuable interceptions at the back.

Centre back – Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)

A player who can play either on the right or in the centre, Ivanovic has carried on his form from last year and has been one of, if not the best centre back in the league this year. He clears well and makes lots of crunching tackles, and has really led the defence during Terry’s absence.

Centre Back – Winston Reid (West Ham)

Due to newly promoted West Ham’s impressive run in the league so far, it is hardly surprising that another one of their players makes it into this team. West Ham’s defensive record in the league is no small part down to his solid performances; a rock at the heart of the Hammer’s defence.

Left Back – Leighton Baines (Everton)

Although Baines is recognised as one of the best defenders in the league and was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United over the summer, he still continues to impress. He looks very dangerous when he attacks down the left but also gets back to defend. Enrique is another player who has impressed recently in this position but has only played a few matches, so I didn’t feel I could put him here.

Central Midfield – Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

Fellaini has undoubtedly been one of the most impressive players so far this season. Having been moved further up the pitch this season due to Tim Cahill’s departure from the club, Fellaini has impressed with his strength and his powerful finishing. Also, as well as being Everton’s top scorer, he has chipped in with assists as well.

Central Midfield – Kevin Nolan (West Ham)

The former Newcastle man has been very influential in leading West Ham to their position in the league. The ‘forgotten man’ is very unlucky to never have been called up for England. A great player who can rack up the assists, especially now he is reunited with big Andy Carroll, providing they re-create their lethal partnership they had at Newcastle. West Ham’s top goal scorer.

Right Midfield – Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)

Arsenal’s pass master. A player who has been capped over fifty times for arguably one of the best ever Spanish sides, Cazorla’s impact at Arsenal has been phenomenal since his transfer. He can unlock defences and has a good finish on him as well. A great asset for Arsenal, proving that Wenger could use the transfer market a bit more.

Left Midfield – Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)

How could I leave him out? He has truly come out of nowhere (well, from the academy) to be a regular starter for Liverpool this season. Sterling is just what Liverpool needed – a fast, skilful winger – due to the lack of them at the club. At only 17 years old, Liverpool need to make sure they nurture him well and to not overplay him, as they could have a potential world class winger of the future on their hands.

Attacking Midfield/Striker – Miguel Michu (Swansea)

Potentially controversial, due to the absence of Van Persie or Berbatov and the inclusion of this player, but I feel due to this player being relatively unknown, I feel he has settled exceptionally into the Premier League. After the departures of key players Joe Allen, Scott Sinclair and manager Brendan Rodgers, it was unclear how well Swansea would do, but Michu has helped Swansea to continue to win games as their top goal scorer.

Striker – Luis Suarez

Liverpool’s star man is well known round the world for his footballing ability but also for his controversy. Although he hasn’t really been a top goal scorer for Liverpool before, he has been on unstoppable form, leading the premier league scoring charts with ten goals from twelve appearances and also gaining assists in an underperforming Liverpool team. He has been truly lethal this season and if Liverpool can find another goal scorer then they could improve on their position rather than relying on just Suarez.

Mention has to go to Van Persie who has been lethal this season and some could say he deserves to be here, but on the back of last season’s performances and the high expectations given to him, I feel he can’t be put in this team.

Fair point, he has been good but Jaaskelainen tips it for me mainly due to his age, his transfer fee, and how well he has done. And also he isn’t considered one of the best keepers in the league but he has performed well.

1. Ivanovic has played 9 games at RB and 2 at CB in the EPL as of 11/20/12.
2. Fellaini and Nolan both play in the same position you’ve selected Michu for.
. You’d *have* to be a Liverpool fan to pick Suarez over Berbs, Long, or RVP.

The positions aren’t really the main part of the article. I was more fitting them on the pitch as I would if I had these players.

I am a Liverpool fan, but I try not to be biased. Suarez should definitely be in front of Van Persie, because he didn’t score as many last season as RVP did, but Suarez has scored more this season. For me Suarez has been exceptional, and I think according to the statistics if Liverpool didn’t have him then they would be last, or something like that. As much as I don’t like to think we are a one-man team, Suarez has led Liverpool on his own this season.

Berbatov has been good but not exceptional and I personally already had high views of him, even if he is a bit lazy.

Long is another player who has done really well. He almost got into the team, seeing as I didn’t rate him that highly before, and he has done well this season. It could have been either of them and he missed out this time. Also I wasn’t willing to drop a midfielder.